 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(December 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Finley Air Force Station | |
|---|---|
| Part ofAir Defense Command (ADC) | |
| Franklin Township,Steele County, nearFinley, North Dakota | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Air Force station |
| Code | ADC ID: P-29 NORAD ID: Z-29/Z-303 Current JSS ID: J-75 |
| Controlled by |  United States Air Force |
| Location | |
  Finley AFS Location of Finley AFS, North Dakota | |
| Coordinates | 47°30′57″N097°52′07″W / 47.51583°N 97.86861°W /47.51583; -97.86861 (Finley AFS P-29) |
| Site history | |
| In use | April 1952–December 1979, April 1952–current (GATR / JSS) |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 785th Radar Squadron |
Finley Air Force Station is a closedUnited States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west-northwest ofFinley, North Dakota. It was closed in 1979 by the Air Force, and turned over to theFederal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Today the site is part of theJoint Surveillance System (JSS), designated byNORAD asWestern Air Defense Sector (WADS) Ground Equipment Facility.
Finley Air Force Station was part of the last batch of twenty-three radar stations constructed as part of theAir Defense Command permanent network. It was activated in April 1951, and declared completely operational in late 1952, and initially the station functioned as aGround control intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guideinterceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes.
The 785th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron began operations with anAN/FPS-3 search radar andAN/FPS-4 from the site in April 1952. In 1957 anAN/FPS-6 replaced the AN/FPS-4 height-finder radar, and anAN/FPS-8 search radar saw brief service. At the end of 1958 this site was operating anAN/FPS-20 radar. A second height-finder (AN/FPS-6B?) was added during 1959.
At the end of 1959 Finley AFS joined theSemi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-20 atMalmstrom AFB,Montana. After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 785th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 15 January 1960. SAGE data was switched to DC-10 atDuluth AFS, Minnesota in 1963. The radar squadron provided information 24/7 the SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range, direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile.
In 1962 Finley operated anAN/FPS-35 search radar plusAN/FPS-6 andAN/FPS-90 height-finder radars. The AN/FPS-6 was removed in 1969. Over the years, the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars.
In addition to the main facility, Finley operated four unmannedAN/FPS-14 (P-29A/B) andAN/FPS-18 (P-29C/D) Gap Filler sites:
The Ground to Air Transmitter-Receiver (GATR) facility was located off-station at47°30′40″N097°54′05″W / 47.51111°N 97.90139°W /47.51111; -97.90139, roughly one mile northwest of the main station.
Over the years, the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars. The site was transferred to theTactical Air Command in October 1979 with the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command, being assigned toADTAC. The 785th Radar Squadron (SAGE) was inactivated, and radar operations at Finley AFS (Z-29) ceased, on 30 December 1979 when a newJoint Surveillance System (JSS) was activated at the former GATR site about a mile to the northwest.
The new Finley JSS site (Z-303/J-75) began operations with anFAAARSR-3 search radar and an Air ForceAN/FPS-116 height-finder radar (removed c. 1988). That site now operates anARSR-4. The main station equipment, buildings, fixtures, furnishings, and land was auctioned off inpublic auction on 9 July 2000. It is now being demolished.
Commanders
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
